FIRST FULLY DIGITAL BANK BRANCH NOW IN THE PHILIPPINES | UNIONBANK THE ARK

Banking has never been this cool with UnionBank's fully digital bank - The Ark. Located at Insular Life Building in Makati, the Ark promises to address common pain points in banking such as long ques, getting a number before being attended to, spending a lot of time in the bank which could have been used in, otherwise, more productive endeavors.

According to UnionBank President and Chief Operations Officer (COO) Edwin R. Bautista, The Ark provides an interactional experience rather than a transactional space. It could also be used as a 3rd space for different communities to get together. He also added that The ARK provides a service unlike any other. There are no lines, no numbers, hardly any forms to fill up, just highly-trained bank ambassadors ready and happy to give personalized service to each and every client. Every client here receives the proverbial VIP service.

The ARK, as a concept branch/ “lab,” also serves as a platform for the clients to co-create an ideal banking experience by closely looking into what the clients’ needs and wants when it comes to banking.

Digital natives would find The ARK as the perfect bank branch that fits their lifestyle. For non-digital natives, however, The ARK serves as their bridge that comfortably leads them from traditional to digital banking.

Regarding the security, worry no more, because duh! If they leveled up banking game, how would it be possible for them not to be equipped with innovative ideas to secure our money? Haha! PS, I'm a Unionbank user.

UnionBank Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Justo A. Ortiz said that it should not come as a surprise for UnionBank to come up with The ARK, which is seen as the bank of the future.

“UnionBank trailblazed digital banking in the Philippines and we continue with our efforts to use technology and enhancing digital banking capabilities in order to provide the best customer experience for our clients,” Ortiz said.

UnionBank has recently been awarded as the Best Digital Bank at the Asiamoney Banking Awards 2017, held at The Ritz-Carlton in Beijing, China, last September 26, validating its position as the best digital bank in the country.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Deputy Governor Chuchi Fonacier graced the launch of The ARK and hailed UnionBank for its future-ready innovations which are at par with international banking standards.

Fonacier said that BSP believes in financial technology as both an opportunity and a challenge to the banking sector.

BSP records show that 25% of current bank clients use mobile banking technologies in their transactions and this number is predicted to grow exponentially over the years.

“Our banks need to be equipped with sound digital strategies for them to cope up with these digital innovations to better serve their clients. BSP will also be aggressively pursuing reforms to support our banks through an enabling regulatory environment,” Fonacier adds.